Prime Minister Borissov Pays Official Visit to UAE

Abu Dhabi, October 21 (BTA special correspondent Hristo Vodenov) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov is on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) October 20 and 21. He met with Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Crown Prince said that he wanted to see the ties between the two countries develop and strengthen, and that he knew many things about Bulgaria and Borissov, the government information service said.

He showed an interest in Bulgaria's EU Council Presidency in the first half of the year and its priority - support for the EU integration of the Western Balkans.

Borissov said at the meeting that Bulgaria and the UAE have shared strategic interests in the economy, agriculture, construction, IT and the defence industry.

The Crown Prince asked Borissov about the transport corridors Bulgaria is negotiating with its neighbours.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister spoke about the November 2 high-level meeting of the Council for Cooperation between Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Greece in Varna.

Borissov told the Crown Prince that Bulgaria would like to participate in Expo 2020 Dubai.

Meeting with Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Borissov said: "It is in the interest of Bulgaria and the UAE to build an effective partnership in strategically important areas, including security and the fight against terrorism."

Borissov expressed satisfaction with the shared political will to step up bilateral cooperation, and stressed the importance of exchanging information and experience in the fight against crime and smuggling. He said it would be a good idea to develop cooperation between the two countries' special services.

Prime Minister Borissov's visit to the UAE is the first at this level in the history of bilateral relations. It follows up on the efforts for stepping up cooperation, including the opening by the two countries of embassies in Abu Dhabi and Sofia at the beginning of 2018.

On October 22, Borissov and his delegation are leaving for Egypt where he will meet with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.